This Woven Kingdom

In the bustling Baz House, Alizeh endures her mundane duties while suffering the occasional whims of her superiors. An unexpected visitor, Omid, arrives with an unexpected proposal. As a chosen guest for the king’s ball, he has been granted permission to bring a companion. He offers this invitation to Alizeh as a means to apologize for his past transgressions against her (i.e., attacking her in the street). This unexpected proposition offers Alizeh a rare glimpse into a world outside her monotonous existence, with the ball promising a night of grandeur, food, and dance. Omid hints that his presence at the ball as the prince’s “trophy” serves as a testament to Prince Kamran’s mercy. Their conversation is cut short by Mrs. Amina, the strict housekeeper, but not before Omid sets a time for their rendezvous. He also urges Alizeh to dress appropriately and discard her servant attire, the snoda.

Prince Kamran’s actions and decisions, which include a rash summoning and public reprimanding of officials, earn Hazan’s ire. In the private confines of the prince’s chambers, a heated exchange between the two reveals deeper undercurrents of tension and secrecy. The central issue in the tension between prince and advisor is Kamran’s growing attraction to